Logan became interested in football during her regular attendances at her father's matches, to which her mother went out of a "sense of duty".[4] On 11 May 1985, she was in the crowd at Valley Parade when the Bradford City stadium fire happened. She, along with her brother and sister, had left the stand only moments before the fire took hold and watched the disaster taking place.[6]

Early career[edit]

After university, Logan began presenting on Metro Radio in Newcastle, from where she was offered a job as a presenter on Sky Sports in 1996. She worked there until 1998, when she joined the ITV TV network.[4]

In 2015, Logan will host Let's Play Darts for Comic Relief for BBC Two.[13]

Channel 5[edit]

In June 2011, while still presenting the sports results shows for BBC One on Saturdays, Logan joined Channel 5 to present a discussion and magazine show following The Wright Stuff at 11:10 am each weekday initially called The Wright Stuff Extra, and later renamed as Live with Gabby[14] On 5 April 2012, the show tweeted to confirm that Logan was leaving the programme.[15]

Radio[edit]

Logan has worked on BBC Radio 5 Live, where she presented a lunchtime show from January 2010. Her previous Sunday morning was taken over by Kate Silverton. On 20 October 2009, it was announced that Logan would be leaving her Sunday morning slot on BBC Radio 5 Live and starting a new weekday show on the station from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm (Monday–Friday) which began on 11 January 2010.[citation needed]

Awards and recognition[edit]

Logan has won "Sports Presenter of the Year" three times at the TRIC Awards in 2000,[23] 2002[24] and in 2004.[25] She was also nominated a further three times in 2007, 2008 and in 2010.[26][27][28] In March 2012, Logan won the Tesco Celebrity Mum of the Year Award.[29] Logan received a longlist nomination for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter at the 2014 National Television Awards.[30]

Upon becoming one of the first female sports anchors to break into terrestrial television in the 1990s, Logan has received praise from many of her fellow professionals such as Terry Venables, Ally McCoist and Des Lynam.[31] Being described as a remarkably natural broadcaster, combined with her easy style and ability to banter with whatever ex-pro who is she working alongside, has made Logan a hugely popular figure on the box.[32][33]

When Logan was in the running to replace Des Lynam to front ITV's football hightlights show The Premiership, fellow sports presenter Jimmy Hill stated, "'I've known Gabby for many years and am pleased to see how well she is doing. She's very intelligent and pretty and, like Des, has the right sort of personality for a successful presenter".[34]

Logan, along with Clare Balding, received continuous praise for their commentary during the coverage 2012 Summer Olympics.[35] Logan was referred to as "poised, warm and groomed".[36] Politician Boris Johnson praised Logan's contribution during the BBC's coverage of the London Games, also saying that his favourite part of coverage was the late-night summary with Gabby Logan.[37]

Personal life[edit]

In 1992, Logan's 15-year-old brother Daniel collapsed and died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.[39] Logan has actively appealed for the Daniel Yorath Appeal, which raises funds for the treatment and detection of the condition.[40]

Logan married former Scotland international rugby union player Kenny Logan on 19 July 2001. She has said that meeting her husband was a motivation to exercise regularly again.[39] The couple live in Kew, southwest London.[42]

On 28 July 2005, after undergoing IVF treatment, Logan gave birth to twins.

In June 2012, Logan was named by The Times newspaper as one of several people to have put money into a film and tax avoidance scheme.[43][44]